Speech #570128761

That I may not be accused of consuming time unnecessarily. I will go directly to it. In section 2. on page 3. the committee. for some reason or other. have gone beyond legislating in reference to immigrants coming into this country and have inserted the contractlabor law in this bill. so that the bill as it stands is not only an immigration bill and will be not only an immigration law if it shall be enacted. but it will be likewise a contractlabor law. I see no reason. Mr. President. why. when we have a statute at the present time in almost if not identical language with the provision in this bill. and when in the sundry civil appropriation bill we have appropriated $150.000 to execute that statute. we should transfer it to this bill. I think I know one reason why it is transferred here. I am credibly informed that a very high oflicial in the Immigration Bureau has declared that if that provision is put in this bill. he will see to it that it is applied to the FrenchCanadians who come from Canada to do work in the New England States. It will be an injustice to New England. It will be disastrous to our interests to an extent that can not be computed by the Senators who are urging the passage of this bill. And I make an appeal that inasmuch as we have a contract law on the statute book. executed by a great Department of the Government. and we are appropriating all the money they ask to enable them to execute that law. we ought not to transfer that contractlabor. law and make it a part of an immigration bill. Now. Mr.